Kid Space Book Recommendations

New Books!

2009-06-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

Hello, Baby! - by Mem Fox; illustrated by Steve Jenkins

Publisher: Beach Lane Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 05/05/2009
ISBN-13: 9781416985136
ISBN-10: 1416985131

Opening with a cheery "Hello, baby! Who are you?", this playful book suggests a host of possibilities. "Are you a zebra / sipping a drink? Perhaps you're an owl / with a wicked wink." After making guesses that introduce a wide variety of baby animals--a porcupine, a warthog, a gecko, an elephant, and more--Hello Baby! comes to a conclusion about baby's identity that will delight toddlers and parents alike. This sweet book's bouncy rhymes and vibrant, amazingly detailed collage illustrations will have wee ones asking for repeat performances.

Celestine, Drama Queen - by Penny Ives

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 03/01/2009
ISBN-13: 9780545081498
ISBN-10: 0545081491

Little duckling Celestine is absolutely certain that she's destined to be a star. She wears a tiara to school, is amusingly self-centered, and eagerly accepts the lead role in the class play...before it's been cast. Not the least bit discouraged by the small part that she's actually assigned, Celestine earnestly practices her one line but is thwarted on opening night by a bad case of stage fright. All's well that ends well, however, and this cozy, softly colored confection ends with warm reassurance from Mrs. Duck that Celestine will always be a star to her.

Higher! Higher! - by Leslie Patricelli

Publisher: Candlewick Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 03/24/2009
ISBN-13: 9780763632410
ISBN-10: 0763632414

A little girl wearing stripes and pigtails sits on a swing and shouts "Higher! Higher!" each time her father gives her a push. Every upswing takes her to a new height--first she's nose-to-nose with a giraffe, then she's above buildings, a mountaintop, and an airplane, until finally she meets an alien swinging among the stars. Bright, joyful cartoon illustrations tell the bulk of this tale--the book only uses six words--and will tickle toddlers' funny bones. Expect young listeners to repeat the last word spoken by the girl as she glides back to earth: "Again!"

Wink: The Ninja Who Wanted to Be Noticed - by J. C. Phillips

Publisher: Viking
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 03/19/2009
ISBN-13: 9780670010929
ISBN-10: 0670010928

In this fresh take on the "be yourself" theme, boisterous Wink eagerly begins his training at a school for young ninjas, only to discover that being stealthy and invisible goes against his grain. He tries, but he just can't bring himself to blend in--he wants to be noticed. After many failures and a chance meeting with a member of a circus troupe, Wink finally finds his true calling (hint: it involves juggling fire sticks while balancing on a bamboo pole). Bold, textured collage illustrations vault this gleeful, energetic tale over the top.

Spoon - by Amy Krouse Rosenthal; illustrated by Scott Magoon

Publisher: Disney/Hyperion
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 04/07/2009
ISBN-13: 9781423106852
ISBN-10: 1423106857

Young Spoon is having an identity crisis; compared to his friends Knife, Fork, and the Chopsticks, he feels unadventurous and limited. But guess what? Spoon's utensil buddies admire his abilities as much as he envies theirs! With illustrations that give its characters tremendous personality (especially the elegant, precise chopsticks), this endearingly funny book delivers both a solid message and a heaping helping of giggles.

Wombat Walkabout - by Carol Diggory Shields; illustrated by Sophie Blackall

Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 03/19/2009
ISBN-13: 9780525478652
ISBN-10: 0525478655

Six adorable, furry wombats go for a walk--but none of them notices the hungry dingo tailing them until all but two are caught in his tote sack. Finally, these two spy the dingo and hatch a plan to rescue their mates. With a glossary of the Australian words used and a visual key to which wombat is which (Lee wears polka-dotted shorts, Pru a beaded necklace, etc.), this delight from Down Under "delivers age-appropriate suspense" (Publishers Weekly) along with a peek at the flora and fauna of the outback. Kids will love finding the mostly-hidden dingo in each spread.

Caldecott Winners

2009-05-08T07:17:00.000-07:00

The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

Check out this year's and past winners of the Caldecott Medal.

Kidlitosphere

2009-03-05T06:08:00.000-08:00

Awesome Children's Literature wiki!
The Kidlitosphere (blogs about Children's Lit) is filled with reviews of Children's Books. This site will take you to reviews from all over. Just click on a category and go!

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

2008-05-22T07:50:00.001-07:00

Click To Play

Just One More Book!!

2008-05-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

Just One More Book is a thrice-weekly podcast which promotes and celebrates literacy and great children’s books.

Recorded in a tiny coffee shop in Canada, Just One More book also podcasts interviews with authors, illustrators and book enthusiasts of all kind.

ALA Notable Children's Books

2008-05-09T12:42:00.000-07:00

Each year a committee of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) identifies the best of the best in children's books. According to the Notables Criteria, "notable" is defined as: Worthy of note or notice, important, distinguished, outstanding. As applied to children's books, notable should be thought to include books of especially commendable quality, books that exhibit venturesome creativity, and books of fiction, information, poetry and pictures for all age levels (birth through age 14) that reflect and encourage children's interests in exemplary ways.

Link to the 2008 Notable Children's Book List

Past Notable Lists

Time's Top 10 Children's Books for 2007

2008-05-09T12:40:00.001-07:00

Be sure to check out

Time's Top Ten Children's Books for 2007.

More Good Books!

2008-03-17T14:56:00.000-07:00

Be sure to check out Notes from the Horn Book, which is a newsletter about news on good children and teen books.

Narnia Triumps Over Harry Potter!

2008-02-22T11:13:00.000-08:00

Check out the United Kingdom's list of the Best 50 Children's Books.

Best Books for Babies

2008-01-31T07:28:00.000-08:00

Since the Caldecott Medal isn't always good for the youngest of readers, Beginning for Books, a Pittsburgh literacy group puts together a list of the 10 best books for babies.

(most books were published in 2006.)

Mama's Day (Simon & Schuster)

written by Linda Ashman

illustrated by Jan Ormerod

Whose Toes Are Those? (Little Brown)

written by Jabari Asim

illustrated by LeUyen Pham

Easy Street (Dutton)

written by Rita Gray

illustrated by Mary Bono

Welcome Precious (Orchard)

written by Nikki Grimes

illustrated by Bryan Collier

Look at You! A Baby Body Book (Candlewick Press)

written by Kathy Henderson

illustrated by Paul Howard

Look at the Animals (Dutton)

written and illustrated by Peter Linenthal

Wee Willie Winkie (Houghton Mifflin)

written and illustrated by Salley Mavor

Hush, Little Baby (Greenwillow)

illustrated by Brian Pinkney

Cheep! Cheep! (Bloomsbury)

written by Julie Stiegemeyer

illustrated by Carol Baicker-McKee

Baby Cakes (Little Simon/Simon & Schuster

written by Karma Wilson

illustrated by Sam Williams

Remember that the best time to read to your child is when they are winding down and repetition is an important part of early literacy for babies. So cuddle up at bedtime with one of the books on the 8th annual "Best Books for Babies" list.

One Book New Jersey

2008-01-29T12:52:00.000-08:00

One Book New Jersey is an exciting program that libraries and their partners will promote across the state. The goal is to bring people together through literature by encouraging them to read the same book and participate in discussions and other events centered on that book. OBNJ celebrates reading, literacy and all that New Jersey's libraries do.

OBNJ is proud to announce the 2008 middle grade winner:

The Fairy Tale Detectives
(Part of the Sisters Grimm series)
by Michael Buckley

Orphans Sabrina and Daphne Grimm have gone from one bad foster home to another, and have become adept at running away. Now they have arrived at Ferryport Landing to live with Granny Relda. Sabrina is suspicious; she never knew she had a grandmother. But Sabrina and Daphne are soon caught up in the legacy of the Grimm family. As descendents of Wilhelm, they must keep the fairy tale characters, the "Everafters," contained. When Relda goes missing, it is up to the girls to solve the mystery - which involves giants, pixies, fairies and witches. This is a mystery-adventure with lots of fantasy and just as much humor. Prince Charming is the town mayor, Snow White is a school teacher, and the Big Bad Wolf is a friend, trying hard to reform. Once you get started, it's hard to put down. (excerpt taken from the One Book New Jersey website.)

NextReads

2008-01-28T13:51:00.000-08:00

Never know what to read to your child next?

Do you often rely on book suggestions?

Well, picking your book just got a whole lot easier!

The Monroe Township Library now offers NextReads, a free web-based service that sends book recommendations for children and teens straight to your email!

Sign-up now!

Kirkus's Best Books of 2007

2008-01-28T12:32:00.000-08:00

Kirkus's childrens editors and contributors spent weeks selecting titles that represent children's literature at its finest (which is a very difficult task!) Below are a list of exceptional titles published in 2007 that will be sure to enchant both parents & children.

A Seed is Sleepy

by Dianna Hutts Aston / illustrated by Sylvia Long

Telling about the life of a seed, this book is illustrated by award-winning artist Sylvia Long, making it not only informative - but beautiful! It is sure to stretch a child's imagination to great lengths.

Ivy and Bean Break the Fossil Record
by Annie Barrow / illustrated by Sophie Blackall

Everyone in the second grade seems to be breaking some world record - and Ivy and Bean are no exception, deciding they wish to break the record of being the youngest people to ever find a dinosaur skeleton! A great book for children who are just bridging the gap to being an independent reader.

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little
by Peggy Gifford / photographs done by Valorie Fisher

With summer coming to an end, soon to be fourth-grader Moxy Maxwell does EVERYTHING to try to avoid reading her assigned summer reading book.

Old Penn Station
written & illustrated by William Low

This book portrays the nostalgia of the baby boom generation, when the railroad was the way to travel. Old Penn Station takes you into the depth of the Hudson River and the every day hustle and bustle of of the old Penn Station, prior to its destruction in 1910.

The Apple Pie that Papa Baked
by Lauren Thompson / illustrated by Jonathan Bean

When a doting father decides to make an apple pie for his beloved daughter, an enjoyable day is had by all, including the hungry farm animals who hover nearby in the hopes of getting a slice of the pie.